Thembi Kgatlana’s mom wanted her to play netball – now she could not be prouder

11 January 2019 - 13:35 By Marc Strydom

Banyana Banyana striker Thembi Kgatlana poses with her awards at the OR Tambo Airport on her return from Dakar in Senegal where she won the CAF African Women's Player of the Year as well as the African Goal of the Year on January 10 2019.
Image: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Banyana’s Banyana’s new superstar Thembi Kgatlana’s mother‚ Constance‚ admits when her daughter started playing football she was a little mystified as to why.

Now‚ after 22-year-old Kgatlana top-scored at the Africa Women Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ghana for runners-up Banyana last year‚ and won Women’s Player of the Year at the Caf Awards in Senegal this week‚ Constance Kgatlana can only say: “I’m very proud of my daughter. I feel great.”

Kgatlana‚ who also won Goal of the Year‚ competing against men and women players‚ was greeted by her beaming mom – sporting a shirt from Houston Dash‚ her daughter’s club in the USA – returning from OR Tambo International Airport.

“She knew‚ even as a little girl. So I left her. And then I encouraged her.

“I was an athlete at school. So she gets it from me‚” Kgatlana’s mom laughed.

“Her father was a footballer and I was an athlete‚ a sprinter.”

Kgatlana’s father‚ Gabriel‚ travelled with her to Dakar.

He said there will be a party – no doubt a long-lasting one – for his daughter in their home town of Mohlakeng in Randfontein‚ soon after she returns from duty for Banyana in next week’s friendlies in Cape Town against Sweden and Netherlands.

Gabriel Kgatlana said Thembi was a good student at school.

“I saw her talent‚ and also off the field too. At school Thembi was wise‚ wise‚” he said.

“She was about eight years old when we saw her football talent. She would play with the boys in the street.